A Progressive View of the Future of R.I. Education

Yesterday’s Providence Journal contains an editorial by David Segaland Matt Jerzyk that is highly relevant to issues of education. Segal represents the East side of Providence in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and has been a consistent supporter of ESPEC’s goal of improving public education. Jerzyk is the editor of the blog, Rhode Island’s Future,

Below is the section of the editorial related to education. Those interested in entire editorial can read it here.

Transform public education via a new consolidation and funding formula: By implementing a predictable funding formula for public education and consolidating Rhode Island’s school districts, our schools could be fully funded, our city and town budgets could be based on predictable funding levels, millions of dollars could be saved and property taxes could be reduced.

It’s impossible to justify the state’s refusal to provide additional funding for public schools last year. Rhode Island already ranks among the few states with the highest reliance on property taxes for education funding, and the highest percentage of funding burden placed on cities and towns.

Our standing in both categories certainly got worse last year with level funding of education. Now is the time to take politics out of education funding and create a fair and predictable funding formula that provides equitable funding and reduces property-tax burdens.

While Rhode Island’s tradition of local governance is noble, rote parochialism and xenophobia frequently prevent the state from taking advantage of its small size, and must not be tolerated.

Rhode Island’s 36 school districts represent extraordinary inefficiency: The exploitation of economies of scale and the elimination of redundancies would save untold millions of dollars. Perhaps even more importantly, consolidation would decrease socio-economic disparities between our school systems, and align the interests of wealthy communities with those of poorer ones — increasing the likelihood that people from throughout the state would work together to improve education for all students and to fund it in an equitable fashion.

For the first time in years, there’s serious talk of structural reform of our education system. We hope that this work moves forward swiftly, in a fashion that is respectful of teachers and other school employees, and that allows local communities to maintain local control where appropriate. Public education is intended to be the great equalizer in the United States, giving everybody opportunity for economic success.

Through school consolidation and implementation of a funding formula, the reality will inch closer to this theory.